Unregistered Fuel Additives Cost Company $1.25 M

Nov 11, 2008

Biofriendly Corp., incorporated in Nevada with principal offices in Covina, Calif., has agreed to pay the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency $1.25 million for manufacturing and selling an unregistered fuel additive in Texas and California, according to a Nov. 3 press release.

"The fuel additive requirements of the Clean Air Act are a critical part of EPA's program to reduce air pollution," said Granta Nakayama, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. "This is the largest penalty ever levied for violation of the Clean Air Act's registration requirements for fuels and fuel additives."

Biofriendly sold "Green Plus," an unregistered fuel additive it claimed reduced emissions in diesel fuel, between Sept. 2002 and May 2006. When Biofriendly discovered it was in violation, it stopped selling Green Plus domestically.

The Clean Air Act requires that motor vehicle fuels and fuel additives meet stringent environmental standards before they can be distributed. Biofriendly failed to register Green Plus according to EPA procedures ensuring that fuel additives not increase emissions of harmful air pollutants or interfere with vehicle emission-control devices. At a minimum, companies must provide the agency with information on the chemical composition and structure of the additive and may also be required to test products before obtaining registration.

For more information, visit http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/cases/civil/caa/biofriendlycorp.html.